Rookie Omar Gonzalez and veteran Gregg Berhalter have formed a formidable partnership in the middle of the Galaxy defense. Still a work in progress, the Galaxy defense has allowed only 10 goals in eight games.

"I think it's going OK," Berhalter, who turns 36 in August, said of the partnership. "I've said it's something that needs to be developed, but I'm happy with the results." Said the 20-year-old Gonzalez: "Gregg is a great player and he's making me a lot better. I'm not surprised we're working well together."

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena knew it would take time for Gonzalez to grasp the nuances of the professional game, and he figured there was no better way to speed that process than to bring in Berhalter, a former veteran of the U.S. national team (with 44 caps) who had been released from his German club, TSV 1860 Munich. Berhalter has found Gonzalez to be a more than willing student. "He's a good player who is eager to learn," Berhalter said. "Let's not just say he's a rookie who has no idea what's going on out there. He's a good player with a bright future ahead of him."